Receptacle-filling apparatus



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UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE...

CHRISTIAN N. BERGMANN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO BERG- MANN PACKAGING MACHINE COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A COB- IPORATION OF DELAWARE.

RECEPTACLE-FILLING APPARATUS.

Application filed Jul 1, 1926. Serial No. 123,907.

My invention refers to an improvement in machines for packaging material in receptacles of the unit container type, so as to provide a completely filled box, carton, cup, or

other holding unit for any adaptable commodity, as hereinafter described.

The invention has in view to provide means for placing an open top container or receptacle underneath a storage or supply hopper,.by a sliding holder, having a coacting sliding plate or valve door for opening and closing an outlet port or opening, and for presenting the open top of the container underneath the hopper for filling and for removal when filled, with a cut-off of the supply. l

The invention is generally similar to that shown and described in my prior application Serial No. 89,337, utilizing in a hand operated machine, a receptacle holder adapted to be pushed backwardly for filling and then withdrawn, operable to insure the filling of the container flush full and even with its upper edge, by a wiping action in removing it across underneath the lower flat face of the hopper. v

The present invention relates particularly to certain features of construction, providing for interchangeable receptacle supports,

means for adjust-ably mounting the recepta cle support on the sliding holder, an improved resilient supporting base for the re ceptacle, a centering guiding edge forthe sliding valve plate, and other features of construction as hereinafter more fully described.

Certain preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a central vertical sectional view through the operative portion of'the mechanism, showing the receptacle holder in receiving position;

Fig. 2 isa similar view, showing the holder withdrawn; r

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line III, III, of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a modified construction of hold-er, for cylindrical receptacles;

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view showing a perspective detail view of a modified construction of the front edge of the sliding plate;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the sliding plate and its'supporting plate;

- Fig. 7 is a sectional View on the line VII, VII, of Fig. 6 Fig. 8 is a central Vertical sectional. view of the receptacle supporting frame, adjusted for use with a smaller sized receptacle;

Figs. 9 and 10 are perspective detail views of a rectangular and cylindrical receptacle, respectively. I

The machine as a whole utilizes an upper hopper or reservoir of any suitable construction or dimensions, mounted upon and extending above a delivery hopper base portion 3.

Said base portion-is mounted by suitablelegs or supporting. frame 4 for proper elevation above the floor surface, and is preferably made of a casting. The interior of base 3 is provided with an inwardly tapering or sloping delivery cavity 5, terminating in a discharge opening or port 6 through which the contents, as ice cream, cottage cheese, salted peanuts,or any similar commodity, are delivered downwardly bygravity, in measured amounts,at each time that such opening is'placcd in communication with a lowerreceiving receptacle a.

For such purpose the bottom of frame 3 is planed off to provide a smooth plane bear- 1 ing surface 7 for a slide plate 8.

Said plate is mounted above thereciprocable plate or frame 9, slidably carried. by its side edges in supporting slides 10, de-

pending from the main base at eachside of the longitudinal center. 7

Frame 9 is provided at its front with-a receptacle support, having a receivin cavity for the receptacle, either rectangularas receptacle a, or cylindrical as receptacle 6.

In the present construction the slidable plate or base 9 is'provided with a downwardly extending stem. 11, fixedly mounted by set screw 12 in a boss or lug 13 of the frame for adjustable mounting thereon of the receptacle support.

Such support, in the 0011 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is adapted to receive the rectangular receptacle a, and is preferably struction shown upper valve plate 8, retaining itby the heads made of sheet or plate metal, having a back 14, sides 15, 15, and bottom shelves 1G, 16, preferably extending slightly beyond the sides 15.

The receptacle holder as thus made, is riveted or otherwise secured to the front of an 'adjustably mounted base 17, fitting over stem 11, and secured thereon by a set screw 18. The stem 11 is provided with a centering V groove 19 for the pointed terminal of the set screw, so as to insure alinement of the receptacle holder at any position vcrtically of the stem.

Between the bottom supporting shelves 16,,

I leave a clearance opening 20 for an upwardly pressing leaf spring 21 secured at 22 to the bottom of the carrying base 17, so that when a receptacle is placed in position, it will depress the spring and be held thereby throughout the. operation upwardly against the under plane face 7 of the hopper frame.

Valve plate 8 is mounted on plate 9 for limited vertical and slight tilting movement underneath it of frame or holder plate 9 when desired, by means of guiding pins 23 fitting loosely into registering openings in plate 8 and extending partly therethrough, as in Fig. 7. Limiting screws or studs 24 are inserted upwardly through open clearance holes in holder plate 9 and tapped into of the screws against loss or removal, while providing for slighttilting movement of holder plate 9.

As thus'mounted, holder plate 9 has a limited extent of movement under valve plate 8, while at all times pressing the valve plate into close contact with surface 7 by spring 25.

The advantage of such adjustment of the frame or holder plate is that it allows for slight tipping of the receptacle when de sired, as for release of air displaced by the material in. filling, thus facilitating gravity filling of the contents.

F or the purpose of pressing the plate 8 upwardly against such face 7 at all times, I provide a spring 25, mounted in a housing 26, depending below the main holder plate frame 9, with an adjusting set screw 27 for the spring, and an upper rounded stud 28, bearing up underneath the middle portion of plate 8.

By such construction, as the holder andits cut-01f plate are pushed inwardly or drawn outwardly, the valve plate 8 will maintain its sliding close contact against face 7, opening the outlet cavity 6,;as in Fig. 1, when thrust inwardly for charging, and closing it when drawn outwardlywith the filled receptacle, as 1n Fig, 2.

F or the purpose of positively limiting in ward movement of the sliding frame, an adjustable stop set screw 29 is mounted m a depending lug 30 and preferably provided with a lock nut 31, so as to accurately position the set screw for abutting contact against the rear middle leg 4, or other suitable abutment.

Any suitable means may also be provided for limiting forward-movementofthe carriage, preferably releasable, as shown in the prior application, forcomplete removal thereof.

In the construction just described, the frontedge of slide plate 8 is straight across for contacting engagement with the upper inner straight edge of the. receptacle 61, against which the receptacle makes close contact for filling.

When it is desired to fill cylindrical receptacles, as round paper cups or the like, the frame just described is removed and substituted by another like that shown in Fig. 1.

The construction is the same as to the holder plate 9 and upper slide'or valve plate 8, except that the-front edge of the latter is in the form of a semi-circle, as indicated at 82. In such case, the side edges project outwardly to about the middle portion of the receptacle, providingguiding and retaining portions The base 1. in such case is adjustably mounted on stem 11 by .set screw 18, asalready described, but the base is provided with acircular bottom shelf 34, havingan upwardly extending semi-circular retaining edge portion 35. At about the middle of each opposite side, lugs 86 extend laterally, providing convenient grasping terminals for the fingers of the operator.

F or the purpose of providing means for exerting upward pressure, either by its forward or rear portion, or both, a doubled leaf spring 37 is secured at the front. under portion of the'supporting bottom 34, as 'at 38. The springextends backwardly through a middle clearance opening 39', is re-doubled upon itself, as at t0, and extends forwardly therefrom as shown, in register with an upper front clearance opening 41, permitting depression of the spring by receptacle I) when in position.

The advantage of such constructionis that unequal contact or pressureof the upper edge of the receptacle against the surface 7 is avoided, with prevention of any tilting, due to the double-acting front and rear equalizing pressure of the spring.

When used with extra long receptacles, I preferably also use a supplemental half round guide member 42', having the lateral grasping lugs 43 and a securing 11111144 having a tightening set screw as, for mounting on the stem 11 at any desired vertical position, maintained in guiding alinement by the groove 19, as in Fig. 4. In suclrcase,

the member 42 assists in supporting the receptacle and holding it in alinement with the the receptacle.

As a further bracing .and guiding assistance, valve plate 8 for cylindrical receptacles may be provided with supplemental extending horns or prongs 46 secured underneath the opposite edge portions of the plate as shown in Fig. 5. With either construction, the receptacle holder may be vertically adjusted to exactly suit the height of the receptacle, with compensating clearance for the action of spring 37, and with provision for varying heights of receptacle by the mounting of the supporting bottom on the depending stem 11.

The construction and operation of the invention will bereadily understood and appreciated from the foregoing description.

' A receptacle, either rectangular or cylindrical, being inserted in the holder and against the front edge portion of plate 8, is

thus positively located and continuously pressed upwardly by the spring against the under face 7.- The sliding holder and its valve plate then being thrust inwardly, discharge cavity 6 isopened and the receptacle will be filled. Upon reverse movement the entirely filled receptacle will slide forwardly while being held upwardly against such flat surface, and the following valve plate 8 will cut off and close the cavity against escape of .any material. f a

As shown, the upper inner edge of either form of receptacle bears at all times against the front edge portion of valve plate 8, and the side edges of the receptacle extend lat erally beyond the opening 6 with upward engagement against face 7, elfectuallysealing the parts against escape of any material.

In removal, the contents of the receptacle fill it flush with the top, with a smooth severance surface as the receptacle is withdrawn against the edge of port 6 andthe' smooth plane surface 7 while constantly pressing upwardly thereagainst.

After thus being filled, the receptacle may be removed by the finger .and thumb, and the container placed in a refrigerating can or elsewhere, as desired, and the operation repeated. 7

It will be understood that the receptacle holder may be moved inwardly and outwardly by hand as described, or by any suitable or convenient means.

I What I claimis:

1 The combination with a supply reservoir having a plane under face, of a slidably mounted holder having a loosely mounted valve plateand a depending mounting stem, and a receptacle support adjustable vertically-on the stem.

' 2. The combination with a supply reservoir having a plane under face, of a slidably mounted holder having a loosely mounted valve plate and a depending mounting stem, and a receptacle support adjustably mounted on the stem and provided with means for securing'it thereon. c I

The combination with a supply reservoir having a plane under face, of a slidably mounted holder having a loosely mounted valve plate and a fixedly located depending mounting stem having a key-way groove, and a receptacle support adjustably mounted on the stem and provided with a set screw engaging the groove.

4. The combination with a supply reservoir having a plane under face, of a slidably mounted holder having a loosely mounted valve plate and a depending mounting stem, a'receptacle support on the stem, and an adjustable set screw adapted to engage an abutment to limit inward movement of the frame.

5. The combination with a sliding frame having a relatively movable valve plate and a depending grooved stem, of a receptacle holder having a lug adjustably mounted by said lug on the stem, and a set screw in the lug engaging the groove of the stem.

6. The combination with a sliding frame having a relatively movable valve plate and adepending grooved stem, of a receptacle support on the stem, .and a supplemental receptacle bracing support adjustably mounted on the stem between the sliding frame and the receptacle support.

7. The combination with a sliding frame having a relatively movable valve plate and a depending grooved stem, of a receptacle support adjustably mounted on the stem having a doubled leaf spring extending above its bottom face.

8. A receptacle support having a carrying face with a middle clearance opening and a doubled leaf spring secured at one end and depressible to the level of the carrying face.

9. A receptacle support having a carrying face with a middle clearance opening and a doubled leaf spring secured at one end and normally extending upwardly above the carrying face.

10. A receptacle support having a carrying face and arear limiting abutment eX- tending above the face, a middle upwardly pressing spring, and means for mounting the support adjustably on a carrying stem.

Ill)

11. A receptacle support having a carrying face and. a rear limiting abutment extending above the face, laterally extending grasping lugs, a middle upwardly pressing spring, and means for mounting the supportion a carrying stem.

12. A receptacle support-havinga carrying face and a rear limiting abutment eX- tending above the face, a middle upwardly pressing spring, and a stem embracing lug having a pointed set screw therein for adjustable mounting on a carrying'stem.

13. A receptacle'support having a circular carrying face and a rear semi-circular upwardly extending limiting abutment, later ally extending grasping lugs, a middle up- \vardly pressing supporting, spring, and means for-mounting'the support on a carrying stem. p

14. In combination with a slidable frame having an upper plate, a relatively movable valve plate thereon having a frontconcaved edge. 7

15. In combination with a slidable frame having an upper plate, a relatively movable valve plate thereon having a. front concaved edge and supplemental guiding and'bracing extensions secured thereto.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

CHRISTIAN N. BERGMANN. 

